Analysis device and method for cell count in the analysis device

ABSTRACT

The movement of a window can be optimally controlled by storing, in window memory, information indicating a movement made by a distance corresponding to a window size, thereby preventing duplicate detection of the same cell and eliminating the need for recapturing data every time the window size is changed. Thus, it is possible to provide a cell analysis apparatus which can obtain the number of desired cells with one data acquisition and conduct an accurate analysis in a short time.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention belongs to a cell analysis technique in the fieldof medical equipment and relates to an analysis apparatus, in which aspecimen containing different sized cells is applied onto a disc, lightis emitted to the disc, and the sizes of the cells are identified andthe cells are counted in the specimen based on reflected light ortransmitted light, and relates to a cell counting method in the analysisapparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

As prior art 1 of an analysis apparatus for identifying the size of acell and counting cells in a specimen, an analysis apparatus using anoptical disc is used in the field of medical equipment. In this analysisapparatus, a light source emits light to a specimen applied on a discwhile tracing the tracks of the disc, and a detector detects reflectedlight or transmitted light. A detected signal passes through an ADconverter and is stored in a buffer memory. The disc has a calibrationmark indicating the reference rotation direction, and data detected bythe detector is aligned relative to the calibration mark. In a locationhaving no cells in the specimen, the detector detects a constantintensity of light, whereas in a location having cells, the level oflight detected by the detector is reduced due to the interference oflight. Such a change in the level detected by the detector is recognizedto decide the presence or absence of a cell. With this method, thepresence or absence of cells is decided in a one-dimensional manner (ona track). Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a method of identifying cells in atwo-dimensional manner will be discussed below.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an analysis method of theconventional analysis apparatus. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining amethod of analyzing different sized cells in the conventional analysisapparatus.

First, the presence or absence of cells is decided in a one-dimensionalmanner. When it is decided that cells are present, ‘1’ is stored inmemory for each cell. When it is decided that no cell is present, ‘0’ isstored in the memory at regular sampling intervals. FIG. 1 shows a statein the memory at this point of time. One-dimensional cell recognitiondata on cells 104 on tracks 102 of a disc is stored while each of thetracks 102 is matched with each bit of data buses on specimen memory101. At this point, windows 103 of m rows×n columns corresponding to thesize of the cell 104 are placed on the specimen memory 101. Scanning isperformed on the memory 101 while shifting the windows 103 by one bit inthe tangential direction and the track direction. During scanning, when‘1’ is present in all the rows of the window 103, it istwo-dimensionally decided that a cell is present. At this point, “1” inthe window are all rewritten to “0” and processing is performed toprevent duplicate detection of the same cell. In this case, the size ofa cell to be detected is determined by a window size. When the size of acell to be detected is changed, the size of the window 103 is changedaccordingly.

As prior art 2 of an analysis apparatus, a conventional cell countingmethod will be discussed below in accordance with the accompanyingdrawings. In this method, cells within a fixed size are counted for eachsize out of different sized cells applied on an analysis disc.

FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b) are each an explanatory drawing showing a celldetecting method in the conventional cell counting method. FIG. 11(a) isan explanatory drawing showing the positional relationship among tracks,laser light, and a cell to be measured on the analysis disc in theconventional cell counting method. FIG. 11(b) is an explanatory drawingshowing a method of identifying the size of a cell and counting cellsfor each size by using a window in the conventional cell countingmethod.

In FIG. 11(a), reference numeral 201 denotes a cell which is a measuringobject applied on the analysis disc, reference numeral 202 denotestracks on the analysis disc, and reference numeral 203 denotes laserlight moving relatively on the analysis disc. In the conventionalanalysis apparatus, a specimen is applied to the analysis disc and thenumber of specific cells is analyzed out of the different sized cells201 in the specimen. In such an analysis apparatus, the tracks 202 arespirally formed on the analysis disc in the same manner as an opticaldisc such as a CD-ROM. Control is performed such that the laser light203 moves relatively on the tracks 202 during the rotation of theanalysis disc.

The cell 201 to be measured is larger than the width of the track 202and present over the two or more tracks 202. When the laser light 203moves on the tracks 202, a signal change occurs in a laser lightreceiving section depending upon whether the cell 201 is present or noton the tracks 202. By processing the signal change, “1” is stored inmemory when it is decided that the cell 201 is present and “0” is storedotherwise, and the length of “1” is detected in the longitudinaldirection based on the data array in the memory, so that the sizes oftwo or more cells are identified and the cells are counted for eachsize.

As the cell counting method of identifying the size of a cell andcounting cells for each size, the following method is used: cells to bemeasured are detected and counted for each size by using square windows,which are switched for each desired size.

In such a cell counting method, for example, when the number of cellswith a size of six tracks is detected from a plurality of cells with asize of one to eleven tracks, a window with a size of 6×X1 is used asshown in FIG. 11(b). Scanning is performed while shifting the window oneby one in the Xdirection, and the number of locations where “1” isincluded in all the rows of the window is counted.

Then, a window with a size of 7×X1 is used. Scanning is performed whileshifting the window one by one in the X direction, and the number oflocations where “1” is included in all the rows of the window iscounted.

Hence, the number of cells present over six tracks or more and thenumber of cells present over seven tracks or more are determined, sothat the number of cells with a size of six tracks can be determined bya difference between the numbers.

In this case, X1 is an integer value larger than the range ofdisplacement of “1”. The displacement is caused by uneven rotation ofthe disc or variations in signal detection. Even in the event ofdisplacement of “1” on each track, the displacement can be detected as“1” of the same cell.

Prior art 3 of the analysis apparatus conforms to a dot imageidentifying method in which an isolated point detection filter FD isused for image data to detect an isolated point, it is decided whetherthe image data is a dot image depending upon the number of isolatedpoints detected in a predetermined area, and a decision result isoutputted. Window scan is performed in memory to handle the image data.

FIG. 16 shows a method of storing data in memory when recognizing acell. In FIG. 16, data on a cell 311 to be measured is captured for eachtrack 312 of a disc. The binarized data is matched with the bit of adata bus and is stored in a memory area 313 in the order of sampling. Inthis case, “1” is stored when a cell is recognized on the passed track312, and “0” is stored otherwise.

As shown in FIG. 17, in the cell size identifying method and countingmethod at this point, a window 314 with a fixed size of a×b (e.g., 3×8in FIG. 17) is caused to scan the memory where cell data is stored inthe above manner. In this case, “a” indicates that a cell to be measuredhas a size of about “a” tracks, and “b” is determined based on a factthat a search can be made in consecutive “b” samples for cellrecognition data “1” of the same cell even when a sampling position inthe track is displaced by jitter. Further, in the scanning method, thewindow is shifted by one sample in the address direction and shifteddownward by one bit in the bit direction. When “1” is found inconsecutive “a” bits in the bit direction in the window, “1” in “a” bitsare counted as a single cell, “1” in the window are all replaced with“0”, and these operation are repeated.

In the foregoing prior art 1, in the case where a specimen includes, asshown in FIG. 2, both of a cell 105 to be detected and a cell 106 whichis double in size of cell 105 and should not be detected, when thespecimen memory 101 is scanned with a window 107 matching with the sizeof the cell 105 to be detected, the cell 106 not to be detected iscounted as the two cells 105 to be detected. For example, when thenumber of the cells 105 to be detected is 100 and the number of cells106 not to be detected is 50, a result of 100+50×2=200 is obtained bydetection with the window 107.

In order to obtain the number of the cells 105 to be detected, it isnecessary to obtain the number of the cells 106 not to be detected andsubtract the number of the cells 106 from the total. For this purpose,scanning is performed in the specimen memory 101 by using a window 108matching with the size of the cell 106 not to be detected. However, datain the specimen memory 101 is rewritten after scanning using the window107, and thus the data cannot be used. Hence, data has to be recaptured,which causes different analysis conditions as well as doubled analysistime, so that an analysis error may increase.

In the measuring method of the cell counting method of prior art 2, whenX1 is large and the displacement of “1” is small in each track duringthe movement of the window after counting, a detected array may be readagain.

For example, when a cell with a size of six tracks is detected, adetected cell with a size of seven or more tracks is detected again inthe window scan of the subsequent row.

In the conventional cell counting method, “1” is converted to “0” in alocation having been detected by the window and counted once, so thatthe location is not read as “1” again. Thus, when a window size isswitched for detection, it is necessary to make remeasurements throughwindow scan on all the rows to decide whether a track has a cell or not,requiring long measuring time.

In the method of prior art 3, the window 314 with a fixed target cellsize is used and the memory is rewritten to “0” every time a cell isdetected. Thus, a large cell requires a window size change 315 as shownin FIG. 18. In this case, the memory cannot be reused and thusrecapturing is necessary. For this reason, measuring conditions becomedifferent, a counting error may increase, and long measuring time isnecessary.

An object of the present invention is to provide an analysis apparatuswhich can eliminate the need for two or more measurements to decide thepresence or absence of a cell on tracks, accurately identify the size ofa cell and count cells in a short time with one data acquisition,improve the accuracy of counting desired cells, and shorten measuringtime, and provide a cell counting method in the analysis apparatus.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An analysis apparatus according to the first aspect of the presentinvention, in which a specimen containing cells is applied onto a disc,light is emitted to the disc, and the number of cells is determinedbased on reflected or transmitted light, the analysis apparatuscomprising: a one-dimensional cell recognition section forone-dimensionally recognizing the cell based on a change of thereflected or transmitted light, a specimen memory for storing first datain a bit corresponding to each track of the disc based on therecognition result of the one-dimensional cell recognition section, thefirst data indicating the presence or absence of the cell, atwo-dimensional cell recognition section for two-dimensionallyrecognizing a cell by scanning the specimen memory with a window havinga given size to confirm the first data, a data addition section foradding second data to the specimen memory for each window, the seconddata indicating the presence or absence of the cell in thetwo-dimensional cell recognition, a cell size identification section foridentifying a cell size by using the second data, and a window movementcontrol section for controlling the movement of the window, wherein thesecond data indicating the presence or absence of the cell for eachwindow is added to the specimen memory, so that a cell size and thenumber of cells are obtained with one data acquisition.

An analysis apparatus according to the second aspect of the presentinvention, in which a specimen containing cells is applied onto a disc,light is emitted to the disc, and the number of cells is determinedbased on reflected or transmitted light, the analysis apparatuscomprising: a one-dimensional cell recognition section forone-dimensionally recognizing the cell based on a change of thereflected or transmitted light, a specimen memory for storing first datain a bit corresponding to each track of the disc based on therecognition result of the one-dimensional cell recognition section, thefirst data indicating the presence or absence of the cell, atwo-dimensional cell recognition section for two-dimensionallyrecognizing the cell by scanning the specimen memory with a windowhaving a given size to confirm the first data, a window switchingsection for arbitrarily switching the size of the window during scanningof the specimen memory, a cell size identification section foridentifying a cell size recognized from a scanning result obtained withone or more window sizes in the two-dimensional cell recognitionsection, and a data deletion section for deleting the first data afterthe identification in the cell size identification, wherein when a cellis confirmed during scanning of the specimen memory, a cell size isidentified by changing the window size and performing rescanning, sothat a cell size and the number of cells are obtained with one dataacquisition.

An analysis apparatus according to the third aspect of the presentinvention is the analysis apparatus according to the first or secondaspect, wherein a sampling period can be changed with the size of thecell in the specimen. An analysis apparatus according to the fourthaspect of the present invention is the analysis apparatus according tothe first aspect, further comprising a cell spacing memory for storing aspacing between the cells during scanning of the specimen memory withthe window, and a memory skip control section for scanning only an areahaving the cell based on information from the cell spacing memory whenthe window size is switched to rescan the specimen memory.

With this configuration, it is possible to obtain the number of desiredcells with one data acquisition and conduct an accurate analysis in ashort time.

A cell counting method in an analysis apparatus according to the fifthaspect of the present invention, the method comprising: reading a dataarray in the area of a scanning window from memory for storing the dataarray having binary data of “0” or “1” surface-aligned along a lateraldirection X and a longitudinal direction Y, the binary data beingobtained based on the presence or absence of cells applied with two ormore sizes on an analysis disc, the scanning window movable in thelateral direction X and the longitudinal direction Y and having a sizeexpressed by rows×X, the rows being aligned along the X direction of thedata array, performing an operation based on the data to decide thepresence or absence of the cells, identifying cell sizes, and countingthe number of the cells for each of the cell sizes, wherein the scanningwindow is constituted of a first window for deciding whether “0” ispresent over the area of the first window with a size of 1×X1 (X1 is aninteger constant), a second window for deciding whether “1” is includedin the area of the second window positioned with a size of 1×1 at thecenter of the X direction of the first window in the subsequent row ofthe first window, and a third window for deciding whether at least one“1” is included in each row of the area of the third window positionedwith a size of Y×X1 (Y is an integer variable) in the subsequent row ofthe second window, and the cell sizes are identified using the scanningwindow.

With this method, when the data array is scanned and read with thescanning window, it is decided in the second window whether “1” ispresent in the area with the size of rows×X=1×1, and thus a decision isnot made on data of the same location. Hence, it is possible to identifythe size of a cell on tracks and count the number of cells for each sizewithout duplicate decision of the same data.

A cell counting method in an analysis apparatus according to the sixthaspect of the present invention is the cell counting method in theanalysis apparatus of the fifth aspect, wherein X1 is larger than therange of displacement caused by variations in a sampling starting point.

With this method, in the first window and the third window, X1 largerthan the range of displacement is used as X to decide data, and thus theposition of “1” can be detected even when the sampling starting point isdisplaced.

A cell counting method in an analysis apparatus according to the seventhaspect of the present invention is the cell counting method in theanalysis apparatus of the fifith or sixth aspect, wherein the size of acell to be detected is set at Y2 to Y3 (Y2 and Y3 are integers, Y2<Y3),the reading of the data array in the area of the scanning window isstarted with the scanning window where Y=Y2−1 is established, Y ischanged, when there is a match with the condition of the scanningwindow, successively to Y2, Y2+1, . . . on a position where there is thematch and it is decided whether there is a match with the rangecondition of Y, and the data array in the area is read until there is nomatch or Y=Y3 is obtained.

With this method, in the third window, it is not necessary to read avacant range when the scanning window is switched, thereby shorteningdetection time.

A cell counting method in an analysis apparatus according to the eighthaspect of the present invention is the cell counting method in theanalysis apparatus according to any one of the fifth to seventh aspects,wherein the presence or absence of the cell is decided according to achange in light quantity when laser light is emitted to tracks on theanalysis disc where the cell is applied and when the laser light isreceived by a photodetector.

With this method, the presence or absence of a cell on tracks is decidedonly by a change in light quantity when laser light is received by thephotodetector. Thus, when there is a cell on tracks, only one “1” isstored in the memory, thereby avoiding complicated data processing whentwo or more “1” are present for one cell.

A cell counting method in an analysis apparatus according to the ninthaspect of the present invention, the method comprising: reading a dataarray in the area of a scanning window from memory for storing the dataarray having binary data of “0” or “1” surface-aligned along a lateraldirection X and a longitudinal direction Y, the binary data beingobtained based on the presence or absence of cells applied with two ormore sizes on an analysis disc, the scanning window movable in thelateral direction X and the longitudinal direction Y and having a sizeexpressed by rows×X, the rows being aligned along the X direction of thedata array, deciding the presence or absence of the cells based on thedata, identifying the sizes of the cells, and counting the number of thecells for each cell size, wherein the scanning window is constituted ofa first window for deciding whether “0” is present over the area of thefirst window with a size of 1×X1 (X1 is an integer constant), a secondwindow for deciding whether “1” is included in the area of the secondwindow positioned with a size of 1×1 at the center of the X direction ofthe first window in the subsequent row of the first window, a thirdwindow for deciding whether at least one “1” is included in each row ofthe area of the third window positioned with a size of Y1×X1 (Y1 is aninteger variable) in the subsequent row of the second window, and afourth window for deciding whether “0” is present over the area of thefourth window positioned with a size of 1×X1 (X1 is an integer variable)in the subsequent row of the third window, and the cell size isidentified using the scanning window.

With this method, when the data array is scanned and read with thescanning window, the second window decides whether “1” is present in thearea of rows×X=1×1, so that a decision is not made on data of the samelocation. Thus, it is possible to identify a cell size and count thenumber of cells for each size with one window scan without duplicatedecision of the same data.

A cell counting method in an analysis apparatus according to the tenthaspect of the present invention is the cell counting method in theanalysis apparatus according to the ninth aspect, wherein X1 is largerthan the range of displacement caused by variations in a samplingstarting point.

With this method, in the first window and the third window, X1 largerthan the range of displacement is used as X to decide data, and thus theposition of “1” can be detected even when the sampling starting point isdisplaced.

A cell counting method in an analysis apparatus according to theeleventh aspect of the present invention is the cell counting method inthe analysis apparatus of the ninth or tenth aspect, wherein thepresence or absence of the cell is decided according to a change inlight quantity when laser light is emitted to tracks on the analysisdisc where the cell is applied and when the laser light is received by aphotodetector.

With this method, the presence or absence of a cell on tracks is decidedonly by a change in light quantity when laser light is received by thephotodetector. Thus, when there is a cell on tracks, only one “1” isstored in the memory, thereby avoiding complicated data processing whentwo or more “1” are present for one cell.

An analysis apparatus according to the twelfth aspect of the presentinvention, in which detection light is emitted to an analysis disc wherecells are applied, and the cells are counted based on data received by aphotodetector, the analysis apparatus comprising: memory for storingbinary cell information for each bit of a data bus, the cell informationbeing obtained for each track on the analysis disc, a window movable inthe area of the memory, a window movement control section forcontrolling the movement of the window, a cell size determinationsection for recognizing the cell from the array of “1” in the window anddetermining a cell size, a cell counting section for incrementing acounter after the recognition of the cell, and a memory rewritingsection for rewriting “1” to “0” after the recognition of the cell.

With this configuration, only one window can is necessary foridentifying a cell size and counting cells, and thus it is possible torecognize all the cells under the same conditions, achieve higheraccuracy of counting and shorter measuring time, and eliminate the needfor a change in window size for recognizing a large cell. Hence, it isnot necessary to reuse the memory and it is possible to identify a cellsize and count cells with one capture and one scan in the memory.

An analysis apparatus according to the thirtieth aspect of the presentinvention is the analysis apparatus according to the twelfth aspect,wherein the window movement control section comprises a window scanningsection for causing a window with a size of 1×1 to scan in the addressdirection, a “1” decision section for deciding the presence or absenceof “1” during scanning of the window, a cell size counter forincrementing a count every time the decision section detects “1”, awindow control section for expanding the window to “1” detected by thedecision section, a stage shifting section for shifting a scanningsegment of “1” in the bit direction every time the decision sectiondetects “1”, and a search segment control section for limiting a rangewhere the window is caused to scan in the shifted scanning segment.

With this configuration, “1” is detected first and the window issequentially expanded to the “1” in the bit direction, and thus it ispossible to determine a window size for one cell, that is, the size of acell in the track direction and eliminate the need for a change inwindow size for recognizing a large cell. Hence, it is not necessary toreuse the memory and it is possible to identify a cell size and countcells with one capture and one scan in the memory.

An analysis apparatus according to the fortieth aspect of the presentinvention is the analysis apparatus according to the twelfth orthirtieth aspect, wherein a size expanded in the address direction isdetermined based on a desired cell size and the obtained size is used asa search segment of the subsequent bit.

With this configuration, a search is made through only a specific rangefrom the firstly detected “1”, thereby preventing another cell frombeing erroneously recognized as the same cell and eliminating a changein window size for recognizing a large cell. Hence, it is not necessaryto reuse the memory and it is possible to identify a cell size and countcells with one capture and one scan in the memory.

A cell counting method in an analysis apparatus according to thefiftieth aspect of the present invention, in which detection light isemitted to an analysis disc where cells are applied, and the cells arecounted based on data received by a photodetector, the method comprisingstep 1 of causing a window with a size of 1×1 to scan in the addressdirection and detecting “1” in a memory area, step 2 of expanding thewindow to 1×X6 (X6 is an integer constant) relative to the detected “1”,step 3 of disposing the window of 1×X6 in the subsequent stage andexpanding, when the window has “1”, the window to the subsequent stage,step 4 of repeating the processing of step 2 and step 3 until no “1” isdetected in the window, step 5 of ending the expansion of the windowwhen no “1” is detected in the window, and making a count when thewindow has a size of a predetermined value in the Y direction, and step6 of rewriting all “1” to “0” and repeating the processing from step 1.

With this method, it is not necessary to remeasure a cell on tracks twoor more times to confirm the presence of the cell, thereby accuratelyidentifying a cell size and counting cells in a short time with one dataacquisition.

As described above, according to the present invention, the movementamount of the window is optimized to prevent duplicate scan of the samebit during scanning. Thus, even in the presence of different sizedcells, it is possible to obtain the number of desired cells with onedata acquisition and conduct an accurate analysis in a short time.

A cell size can be identified by adding a cell recognition result to thespecimen memory for each of the scanning window. Thus, even in thepresence of different sized cells, it is possible to obtain the numberof desired cells with one data acquisition and conduct an accurateanalysis in a short time.

A cell size can be identified by freely changing a window size duringscanning. Thus, even in the presence of different sized cells, it ispossible to obtain the number of desired cells with one data acquisitionand conduct an accurate analysis in a short time. With the decisionwindow for detecting 0 in the first row of the scanning window and the1×1 decision window for detecting 1 in the second row of the scanningwindow, the start position of data can be positively detected relativeto a cell on tracks. Thus, without the need for deleting data in thewindow, a cell size can be identified and cells are counted withoutduplicate decision of the same data.

Thus, it is not necessary to remeasure a cell on tracks two or moretimes to confirm the presence of the cell, thereby accuratelyidentifying a cell size and counting cells in a short time.

Further, it is not necessary to change a window size for recognizing alarge cell, and thus the reuse of the memory is also unnecessary. Thus,it is possible to identify a cell size and count cells with one captureand one scan in the memory.

A number of cells can be counted with one scan in the memory, therebyachieving higher accuracy of counting and shorter measuring time.

Since a cell size can be accurately identified, it is possible torecognize the number of cells for each size and display an image and soon without cells of undesired sizes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an analysis method of a conventionalanalysis apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a method of analyzing different-sizedcells in the conventional analysis apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an analysis apparatus according toEmbodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a scanning procedure of a window accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an analysis apparatus according toEmbodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an analysis apparatus according toEmbodiment 3 of the present invention;

FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) are each an explanatory drawing showing a celldetecting method in a cell counting method according to Embodiment 4 ofthe present invention;

FIGS. 8(a) to 8(b) are each an explanatory drawing showing window scanof Embodiment 4;

FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) are each an explanatory drawing showing a celldetecting method in a cell counting method according to Embodiment 5 ofthe present invention;

FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b) are each an explanatory drawing showing windowscan of Embodiment 5;

FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b) are each an explanatory drawing showing a celldetecting method in a conventional cell counting method;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an analysis apparatus according toEmbodiment 6 of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a cell size identification and countingmethod in the analysis apparatus of Embodiment 6;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the cell size identification and countingmethod in the analysis apparatus of Embodiment 6;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the cell size identification and countingmethod in the analysis apparatus of Embodiment 6;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a data storing method in the memory of theconventional analysis apparatus and the memory of the analysis apparatusaccording to Embodiment 6 of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a cell size identification and countingmethod in the conventional analysis apparatus;

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the cell size identification and countingmethod in the conventional analysis apparatus;

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a cell size identification and countingmethod in an analysis apparatus according to Embodiment 7 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the cell size identification and countingmethod in the analysis apparatus of Embodiment 7; and

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the cell size identification and countingmethod in the analysis apparatus of Embodiment 7.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An analysis apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention anda cell counting method in the analysis apparatus will be specificallydescribed below in accordance with the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, an analysis apparatus of Embodiment 1 willbe first discussed below.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the analysis apparatus according toEmbodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing thescanning procedure of a window of the present invention. In FIG. 3,reference numeral 109 denotes a translucent optical disc, referencenumeral 110 denotes an optical pickup for emitting laser light to theoptical disc, reference numeral 111 denotes the laser light emitted fromthe optical pickup 110, reference numeral 112 denotes a photodetector Afor receiving the laser light 111 having passed through the disc 109 andconverting the laser light to an electric signal, reference numeral 113denotes a deflection prism, reference numeral 114 denotes aphotodetector B for receiving the laser light 111 having been reflectedon the optical disc 109 and converting the laser light to an electricsignal, reference numeral 115 denotes a one-dimensional cell recognitionsection for one-dimensionally recognizing a cell based on signals fromthe photodetector A112 and the photodetector B114, reference numeral 116denotes a two-dimensional cell recognition section for two-dimensionallyrecognizing a cell based on information from a window 107 and a window108, reference numeral 118 denotes a window movement amount calculationsection for calculating the subsequent movement amount of the window 107and the window 108, reference numeral 119 denotes window memory forstoring a window movement amount, reference numeral 117 denotes a resultdecision section for deciding whether the result of the two-dimensionalcell recognition section 116 is correct or not based on the contents ofthe window memory 119, and reference numeral 120 denotes a windowmovement control section for controlling the movement of the window 107and the window 108.

The following will discuss the operations and action of the analysisapparatus configured thus.

First, a specimen (not shown) is applied onto the optical disc 109.After the application of the specimen, the optical disc 109 rotates at aconstant speed; meanwhile, the optical pickup 110 emits the laser light111 to the optical disc 109. The laser light 111 partially passesthrough the optical disc 109 and is received by the photodetector A112.Further, the laser light 111 is partially reflected on the optical disc109, and the reflected light is refracted on the deflection prism 113and received by the photodetector B114. As described in Japanese PatentLaid-Open No. 2002-22651, a signal ratio of the photodetector A112 andthe photodetector B114 is always constant. When a cell is present in thespecimen, transmitted light is changed by the interference of the cell,thereby changing the signal ratio of the photodetector A112 and thephotodetector B114. The one-dimensional cell recognition section 115one-dimensionally decides the presence or absence of a cell based on thechange in signal ratio. When it is decided that a cell is present, ‘1’is raised, for each cell, on a bit corresponding to each track of thedisc and ‘0’ is raised on the other bits. The ‘1’ and ‘0’ signals arestored in specimen memory at regular sampling intervals.

The following will discuss two-dimensional cell recognition. It isassumed that a cell 105 to be detected and a cell 106 not to be detectedare present in the same specimen (FIG. 2). The cell 106 is twice aslarge as the cell 105.

First, for each window movement, the window movement amount calculationsection 118 calculates a window movement amount according to a windowsize such that the scanning windows do not overlap each other and noarea is failed to be scanned. In this case, when the size of the window107 is three rows×three columns, the window 107 subsequently moves fromthe current location by 3 bits in the tangential direction or 3 bits inthe track direction to prevent duplicate detection of the same cell. Theamount of movement is stored in the window memory 119. To be specific, 3is stored in the tangential part of the window memory 119. When thewindow subsequently moves by 1 bit in the tangential direction, 1 issubtracted from this value and the result is 2. Then, 0 is obtained whenthe window moves by 3 bits. On the other hand, as a movement amount inthe track direction, 3 is stored on a position corresponding to thetangential position of specimen memory 101 on the window memory 119. Asin the tangential part, when the window moves by 1 bit in the trackdirection, 1 is subtracted and the result is 2. When the window moves by3 bits, the result is 0.

Subsequently, the specimen memory 101 is scanned by the window 107matching with the size of the cell 105 to be detected. At this point,window scan is performed in the tangential direction and the trackdirection under the control of the window movement control section 120.In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, window scan is performed like scanninglines of a television as follows: scanning is first performed from oneend to the other end of the specimen memory 101 in the tangentialdirection, and then a shift is made by 1 bit in the track direction.

The two-dimensional cell recognition section 116 always checks whetherany bit of the window 107 has ‘1’ or not during scanning of the window107 in the tangential direction. When ‘1’ is present, thetwo-dimensional cell recognition section 116 decides that a cell ispresent in a two-dimensional manner. Then, the result decision section117 refers to the contents of the window memory 119. When datacorresponding to the current location of the window has ‘0’ in thewindow memory, that is, only when the window moves to an area notoverlapping an area where a cell is recognized once, the result decisionsection 117 decides that the decision result of the two-dimensional cellrecognition section 116 is correct. The two-dimensional cell recognitionsection 116 has decided that a cell is present.

The window memory may be provided in a vacant area of the specimenmemory.

In this case, the capacity of the specimen memory can be saved byreversibly compressing the contents of the specimen memory andincreasing the sampling intervals for storing in the specimen memory.

The above explanation described scanning in which when a movement amountis 3 bits, the contents of the window memory are confirmed while thewindow is shifted by 1 bit. Scanning may be performed every 3 bits.

As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to providean analysis apparatus in which the movement of the window is optimallycontrolled by storing, in the window memory, information indicating amovement made by a distance corresponding to a window size and thus itis possible to prevent duplicate detection of the same cell andeliminate the need for recapturing data every time the window size ischanged, thereby obtaining the number of desired cells with one dataacquisition and conducting an accurate analysis in a short time.

Embodiment 2

Referring to FIG. 5, an analysis apparatus of Embodiment 2 will be firstdiscussed below.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the analysis apparatus according toEmbodiment 2 of the present invention. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 122denotes a data addition section for adding data to a part where atwo-dimensional cell recognition section 116 decides that a cell ispresent, and reference numeral 121 denotes a cell size identificationsection for identifying a cell size based on the data added by the dataaddition section 122. Embodiment 2 is different from Embodiment 1 inthat the window movement amount calculation section 118 and the windowmemory 119 are eliminated and the data addition section 122 and the cellsize identification section 121 are added.

The following will discuss the operations and action of the analysisapparatus.

First, as in Embodiment 1, a cell is recognized in a two-dimensionalmanner. At this point, the data addition section 122 adds, for eachscanning window, data to a bit of specimen memory 101 where a cell isrecognized. For example, when a cell is recognized in a window 107, datais added to the left of ‘1’ in the window 107 to have ‘11’. When a cellis recognized in a window 108, data is added to the second bit from theleft of ‘1’ in the window 108 to have ‘101’. When cells are recognizedin both of the windows 107 and 108 in this method, ‘111’ is obtained.The window movement control section 120 confirms the presence or absenceof the data, so that the movement of the window is controlled byadjusting the movement amount of the window such that the scanningwindows do not overlap each other and no area is failed to be scanned.

Subsequently, the cell size identification section 121 confirms the datahaving been added by the data addition section 122 for each window sizeand identifies the size of an actual cell based on the data. Forexample, it is assumed that a cell having been recognized on a locationby the window 108 during scanning is also recognized by the window 107.In this case, an actual cell has a size corresponding to the window 108.However, the scanning window 107 is half the size of the window 108, andthus two cells corresponding to the window 107 are recognized. Hence, itis necessary to subtract 2 from the number of counts of the two cellshaving been recognized in the window 107.

In Embodiment 1, the movement amount of the window is controlled toprevent duplicate scanning. In Embodiment 2, specific data is added tothe specimen memory in response to detection of a cell in each window.Thus, it is possible to prevent duplicate scanning and count the numberof different sized cells.

When the memory is scanned first, in the presence of even one ‘1’ on thesame tangential position of each track, ‘1’ is stored in a cell spacingmemory (not shown) and ‘0’ is stored otherwise. Thus, a memory skipcontrol section can perform control so as to scan only an area having acell and it is possible to eliminate the need for two-dimensionalrecognition where an access is made to specimen memory information on atangential position having no cells in the case of rescanning.

As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to keep ahistory on windows where cells are two-dimensionally recognized, therebypreventing duplicate detection of the same cell. Therefore, it ispossible to eliminate the need for recapturing data every time a windowsize is changed, thereby providing an analysis apparatus which canobtain the number of desired cells with one data acquisition and conductan accurate analysis in a short time.

Embodiment 3

Referring to FIG. 6, an analysis apparatus of Embodiment 3 will bediscussed below.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the analysis apparatus according toEmbodiment 3 of the present invention. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 123denotes a window switching section for switching, during scanning,windows for scanning specimen memory 101. Embodiment 3 is different fromthe configuration of Embodiment 2 in that the window switching section123 is added and the data addition section 122 is replaced with a datadeletion section 124.

The following will discuss the operations and action of the analysisapparatus.

First, as in Embodiments 1 and 2, a cell is recognized in atwo-dimensional manner. Then, a window 107 scans the specimen memory 101in bits in the tangential direction. When a two-dimensional cellrecognition section 116 recognizes a cell at one location, the windowswitching section 123 switches the window 107 to a window 108 and thetwo-dimensional cell recognition section 116 performs cell recognitionagain. At this point, when a cell is recognized both in the window 107and the window 108, a cell size identification section 121 decides thatthe cell has a size corresponding to the window 108. When a cell isrecognized only in the window 107, the cell size identification section121 decides that the cell has a size corresponding to the window 107.Thereafter, as in the conventional art, all ‘1’ detected by the datadeletion section 124 in the window are rewritten to ‘0’ to preventduplicate detection of the same cell. In the above explanation, thewindow 107 is the first window to scan. The window 108 may be the firstwindow. In this case, contrary to the foregoing processing, the windowshave to be switched successively when the two-dimensional cellrecognition section 116 does not recognize any cells.

As described above, in the present embodiment, during scanning of thewindow, a window size is switched to perform rescanning before data inthe specimen memory is rewritten, so that the number of cells detectedby each of the windows can be obtained. Hence, it is possible toeliminate the need for recapturing data every time the window size ischanged, thereby providing an analysis apparatus which can obtain thenumber of desired cells with one data acquisition and conduct anaccurate analysis in a short time.

Embodiment 4

A cell counting method will be discussed below according to Embodiment 4of the present invention.

FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) are each an explanatory drawing showing a celldetecting method in the cell counting method of Embodiment 4. FIG. 7(a)is an explanatory drawing showing the positional relationship amongtracks, laser light, and a cell which is a measuring object on ananalysis disc in the cell counting method of Embodiment 4. FIG. 7(b) isan explanatory drawing showing a method of identifying the size of acell by using windows and counting cells for each size according to thecell counting method of Embodiment 4.

In FIG. 7(a), reference numeral 201 denotes a cell which is a measuringobject applied on the analysis disc, reference numeral 202 denotestracks on the analysis disc, and reference numeral 203 denotes laserlight moving relatively on the analysis disc. In the analysis apparatusof Embodiment 4, a specimen is applied to the analysis disc and thenumber of specific cells is analyzed out of the different-sized cells201 in the specimen. In such an analysis apparatus, the tracks 202 arespirally formed on the analysis disc in the same manner as an opticaldisc such as a CD-ROM. Control is performed such that the laser light203 moves relatively on the tracks 202 during the rotation of theanalysis disc.

The cell 201 to be measured is larger than the width of the track 202and present over the two or more tracks 202. When the laser light 203moves on the tracks 202, a signal change occurs in a laser lightreceiving section depending upon whether the cell 201 is present or noton the tracks 202. By processing the signal change, as shown in FIG.7(b), “1” is stored as a data array in memory 204 when it is decidedthat the cell 201 is present, and “0” is stored otherwise.

In the cell counting method of Embodiment 4, a scanning window 205 has asize basically expressed by rows×X. The rows are aligned along the Xdirection of the data array of the memory 204. As shown in FIG. 7(b), inthe data array of the memory 204, the scanning window 205 is constitutedof a first window 205A for deciding whether “0” is present over the areaof the first window 205A with a size of 1×X1 (X1 is an integerconstant), a second window 205B for deciding whether “1” is included inthe area of the second window 205B positioned with a size of 1×1 at thecenter of the X direction of the first window 205A in the subsequent rowof the first window 205A, and a third window 205C for deciding whetherat least one “1” is included in each row of the area of the third window205C positioned with a size of Y×X1 (Y is an integer variable) in thesubsequent row of the second window 205B.

The following method is used: the scanning window 205 is made movable inthe lateral direction X and the longitudinal direction Y of the dataarray, scanning is started with the scanning window 205 from a samplingstarting point on the upper left of the data array, the window isshifted one by one to the right, the window is moved to set a startingpoint on the left end of the subsequent row when reaching the end of therow, and a search is made for locations matching with conditions of eachwindow while shifting the window one by one from the left to the right.

The size of the window 205C in the longitudinal direction Y varies withdesired cell sizes. FIG. 8(a) to 8(c) each shows an example of aprocedure of detecting a cell with a size of six tracks.

First, the size of the window 205C in the scanning window 205 is set at5×X1 (X1=7 in FIG. 8(a)). As shown in FIG. 8(a), the window is caused toscan to the right, the window is moved to set a starting point on theleft end of the subsequent row when reaching the end of the row, and thewindow is shifted one by one from the left to the right to search forlocations matching with the conditions.

The detection results of the scanning window 205 at the completion ofall search ranges indicate the number of cells corresponding to sixtracks or more. In the data array as shown in FIG. 8(b), in the case ofsearch with the scanning window 205, three locations are detected aslocations meeting conditions, which indicates the presence of threecells, each corresponding to six or more tracks.

Subsequently, the size of the window 205C is set at 6×X1. The window isshifted one by one from the left in a similar manner to search forlocations meeting conditions. Hence, the detection results of thescanning window 205 at the completion of all search ranges indicate thenumber of cells corresponding to seven tracks or more. In the data arrayas shown in FIG. 8(C), two locations are detected as locations meetingthe conditions, which indicates the presence of two cells, eachcorresponding to seven or more tracks.

With this procedure, it is possible to obtain the number of cellspresent over six tracks or more and the number of cells present overseven tracks or more, so that the number of cells with a size of sixtracks can be determined by a difference of the numbers. Thus, it isfound that the data array of FIG. 8 has a single cell with a size of sixtracks. In this case, X1 represents an integer larger than the variationrange of the data array.

On positions other than detected positions shown in FIGS. 8(b) and 8(C), the detection conditions of the windows 205A, 205B, and 205C of thescanning window 205 are not satisfied. Thus, unlike the conventionalart, it is not necessary to delete data to prevent duplicate reading ofdata, thereby eliminating the need for remeasurement of data.

Embodiment 5

A cell counting method will be discussed below according to Embodiment 5of the present invention.

FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) are each an explanatory drawing showing a celldetecting method in the cell counting method of Embodiment 5. FIG. 9(a)is an explanatory drawing showing the positional relationship amongtracks, laser light, and a cell which is a measuring object on ananalysis disc in the cell counting method of Embodiment 5. FIG. 9(b) isan explanatory drawing showing a method of identifying the size of acell by using windows and counting cells for each size according to thecell counting method of Embodiment 5.

In FIG. 9(a), reference numeral 201 denotes a cell which is a measuringobject applied on the analysis disc, reference numeral 202 denotestracks on the analysis disc, and reference numeral 203 denotes laserlight moving relatively on the analysis disc.

In the cell counting method of Embodiment 5, a procedure before a dataarray is stored in memory 204 is similar to that of Embodiment 4, andthus the explanation thereof is omitted.

In the cell counting method of Embodiment 5, a scanning window 206 has asize basically expressed by rows×X. The rows are aligned along the Xdirection of the data array of the memory 204. As shown in FIG. 9(b), inthe data array of the memory 204, the scanning window 206 is constitutedof a first window 206A for deciding whether “0” is present over the areaof the first window 206A with a size of 1×X1 (X1 is an integerconstant), a second window 206B for deciding whether “1” is included inthe area of the second window 206B positioned with a size of 1×1 at thecenter of the X direction of the first window 206A in the subsequent rowof the first window 206A, a third window 206C for deciding whether atleast one “1” is included in each row of the area of the third window206C positioned with a size of Y1×X1 (Y1 is an integer variable) in thesubsequent row of the second window 206B, and a fourth window 206D fordeciding whether “0” is present over the area of the fourth window 206Dpositioned with a size of 1×X1 (X1 is an integer variable) in thesubsequent row of the third window 206C.

The following method is used: the scanning window 206 is made movable inthe lateral direction X and the longitudinal direction Y of the dataarray, scanning is started with the scanning window 206 from a samplingstarting point on the upper left of the data array, the window isshifted one by one to the right, the window is moved to set a startingpoint on the left end of the subsequent row when reaching the end of therow, and a search is made for locations matching with conditions of eachwindow while shifting the window one by one from the left to the right.

The size of the window 206C in the longitudinal direction Y varies withdesired cell sizes. FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b) each shows an example of aprocedure of detecting a cell with a size of six tracks.

First, the size of the window 206C in the scanning window 206 is set at5×X1 (X1=7 in FIG. 10(a)). As shown in FIG. 10(a), the scanning window206 is caused to scan from the upper left to the right of the dataarray, the window is moved to set a starting point on the left end ofthe subsequent row, when reaching the end of the row, and the window isshifted one by one from the left to the right to search for locationsmatching with the conditions.

The detection results of the scanning window 206 at the completion ofall search ranges indicate the number of cells corresponding to sixtracks or more. In the data array as shown in FIG. 10(b), in the case ofsearching with the scanning window 206, one location is detected in thescanning window 206 as a point meeting the conditions, which indicatesthe presence of one cell corresponding to six or more tracks.

On positions other than detected positions shown in FIG. 10(b), thedetection conditions of the scanning window 206 are not satisfied. Thus,it is not necessary to delete data to prevent duplicate reading of data,eliminating the need for remeasurement of data.

Consequently, it is not necessary to remeasure a cell on tracks two ormore times to confirm the presence of the cell, thereby accuratelyidentifying a cell size and counting cells in a short time.

Embodiment 6

A cell counting method will be discussed below according to Embodiment 6of the present invention.

A method of storing data in a memory area 313 of FIG. 16 is the same asa conventional method.

As shown in FIG. 13, the size of a window movable in the memory area isfirst set at 1×1 and the window 301 is caused to scan in the memory area(window scanning section). In the scanning method of the window in thewindow scanning section, scanning is started from the first row of thefirst column in the memory area and the window is sequentially shiftedin the address direction. At the completion of scanning on all areas inthe address direction, the window is shifted by one stage in the bitdirection and scanning is sequentially performed from the first column.Scanning is performed while a “1” decision section decides the presenceor absence of “1”. When the data of a passage area is “0”, the windowpasses as it is. When “1” is found, the window is stopped. In this case,a cell size counter is provided to increment a counter every time “1” isfound.

Relative to the found “1”, a segment for searching for subsequent “1” isshifted by one stage in the bit direction (stage shifting section). Inthis case, a size expanded in the address direction is determined basedon a desired cell size, and the obtained size is used as a searchsegment of the subsequent bit (search segment control section). Further,the size of the search segment expanded in the address direction isfixed within a range of ±m samples (a value m is determined by thedesired cell size) in the address direction relative to the first “1”.However, when the value m is set too large, another close cell may berecognized as the same cell. Thus, it is necessary to set the value msuitably for a target cell size.

A search segment 303 determined thus is scanned by the window scanningsection, and the “1” decision section searches for another “1”. When “1”is found, the window is expanded (302) to the found “1” by a window sizecontrol section (FIG. 14), and the “1” decision section searches forstill another “1” in the search segment of the subsequent bit of thewindow.

These operations are repeated and the expansion of the window is endedwhen the search segment of the subsequent bit has no “1”. The aboveexplanation described functions in a window movement control section.

A cell size is determined according to the value of the cell sizecounter at that time (cell size determination section) A cell countsection counts the cell when the cell has a target size (FIG. 15). Aftercounting, “1” in a window 304 are all rewritten into “0” by a memoryrewriting section, and a search is made for “1” again with the 1×1window 301. For some purposes, the memory rewriting section can rewriteonly “1” of cell data of a specific size into “0” or leave “1” as theyare.

By repeating these operations, window scan is completed in the memoryarea and the number of target cells is counted.

In Embodiment 6, it is possible to determine the size of a cell at therecognition of the cell, thereby counting cells for each size orcounting only cells of a desired size.

Embodiment 7

Referring to FIGS. 19 to 21, a cell counting method will be discussedbelow according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention.

A method of storing data in a memory area 313 of FIG. 16 is the same asa conventional method.

As shown in FIG. 19, a window movable in the memory area is first set at1×1 and the window 305 is caused to scan in the memory area. In thescanning method of the window in a window scanning section, scanning isstarted from the first row of the first column in the memory area andthe window is sequentially shifted in the address direction. At thecompletion of scanning on all areas in the address direction, the windowis shifted by one stage in the bit direction and scanning issequentially performed from the first column. Scanning is performedwhile a “1” decision section decides the presence or absence of “1”.When the data of a passage area is “0”, the window passes as it is. When“1” is found, the window is stopped. In this case, a cell size counteris provided to increment a counter every time “1” is found.

Relative to the found “1”, a size expanded in the address direction isdetermined based on a desired cell size. The window 305 is expandedaccording to the determined size to a bit direction search window 306.Further, the size of the search segment expanded in the addressdirection is fixed within a range of +m samples (a value m is determinedby the desired cell size) in the address direction relative to the first‘1’. However, when the value m is set too large, another close cell maybe recognized as the same cell. Thus, it is necessary to set the value msuitably for a target cell size.

The segment for searching for subsequent “1” is shifted by one stage inthe bit direction. When the shifted window has ‘1’, the window 306 isshifted by one stage to the subsequent bit and the foregoing operationsare continued.

When the window has no ‘1’, the shift of the window 306 in the bitdirection is ended and parts passed by the window 306 are combined intoa window 307. That is, each bit of the window 307 includes one ‘1’.

A cell size is determined according to the bit size of the window 307. Acell count section counts the cell when the cell has a target size.After counting, ‘1’ in the window 307 are all rewritten into “0” by amemory rewriting section, and a search is made for “1” again with the1×1 window 305. For some purposes, the memory rewriting section canrewrite only ‘1’ of cell data of a specific size into ‘0’ or leave ‘1’as they are.

By repeating these operations, window scan is completed in the memoryarea and the number of target cells is counted.

In the present embodiment, it is possible to determine the size of acell at the recognition of the cell, thereby counting cells for eachsize or counting only cells of a desired size.

1. An analysis apparatus, in which a specimen containing cells isapplied onto a disc, light is emitted to the disc, and the number ofcells is determined based on reflected or transmitted light, theanalysis apparatus comprising: a one-dimensional cell recognitionsection for one-dimensionally recognizing the cell based on a change ofthe reflected or transmitted light, a specimen memory for storing firstdata in a bit corresponding to each track of the disc based on arecognition result of the one-dimensional cell recognition section, thefirst data indicating presence or absence of the cell, a two-dimensionalcell recognition section for two-dimensionally recognizing the cell byscanning the specimen memory with a window having a given size toconfirm the first data, a data addition section for adding second datato the specimen memory for each window, the second data indicatingpresence or absence of the cell in the two-dimensional cell recognition,a cell size identification section for identifying a cell size by usingthe second data, and a window movement control section for controllingmovement of the window, wherein the second data indicating the presenceor absence of the cell for each window is added to the specimen memory,so that a cell size and the number of cells are obtained with one dataacquisition.
 2. An analysis apparatus, in which a specimen containingcells is applied onto a disc, light is emitted to the disc, and thenumber of cells is determined based on reflected or transmitted light,the analysis apparatus comprising: a one-dimensional cell recognitionsection for one-dimensionally recognizing the cell based on a change ofthe reflected or transmitted light, a specimen memory for storing firstdata in a bit corresponding to each track of the disc based on arecognition result of the one-dimensional cell recognition section, thefirst data indicating presence or absence of the cell, a two-dimensionalcell recognition section for two-dimensionally recognizing the cell byscanning the specimen memory with a window having a given size toconfirm the first data, a window switching section for arbitrarilyswitching a size of the window during scanning of the specimen memory, acell size identification section for identifying a cell size recognizedfrom a scanning result obtained with one or more window sizes in thetwo-dimensional cell recognition section, and a data deletion sectionfor deleting the first data after identification in the cell sizeidentification, wherein when a cell is confirmed during scanning of thespecimen memory, a cell size is identified by changing the window sizeand performing rescanning, so that a cell size and the number of cellsare obtained with one data acquisition.
 3. The analysis apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein a sampling period can be changed with thesize of the cell in the specimen.
 4. The analysis apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising a cell spacing memory for storing a spacingbetween the cells during scanning of the specimen memory with thewindow, and a memory skip control section for scanning only an areahaving the cell based on information from the cell spacing memory whenthe window size is switched to rescan the specimen memory.
 5. A cellcounting method in an analysis apparatus, the method comprising: readinga data array in an area of a scanning window from memory for storing thedata array having binary data of “0” or “1” surface-aligned along alateral direction X and a longitudinal direction Y, the binary databeing obtained based on presence or absence of cells applied with two ormore sizes on an analysis disc, the scanning window movable in thelateral direction X and the longitudinal direction Y and having a sizeexpressed by rows×X, the rows being aligned along the X direction of thedata array, performing an operation based on the data to decide thepresence or absence of the cells, identifying cell sizes, and countingthe number of the cells for each of the cell sizes, wherein the scanningwindow is constituted of a first window for deciding whether “0” ispresent over an area of the first window with a size of 1×X1 (X1 is aninteger constant), a second window for deciding whether “1” is includedin an area of the second window positioned with a size of 1×1 at acenter of the X direction of the first window in a subsequent row of thefirst window, and a third window for deciding whether at least one “1”is included in each row of an area of the third window positioned with asize of Y×X1 (Y is an integer variable) in a subsequent row of thesecond window, and the cell sizes are identified using the scanningwindow.
 6. The cell counting method in the analysis apparatus accordingto claim 5, wherein X1 is larger than a range of displacement caused byvariations in a sampling starting point.
 7. The cell counting method inthe analysis apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the size of thecell to be detected is set at Y2 to Y3 (Y2 and Y3 are integers, Y2<Y3),reading of the data array in the area of the scanning window is startedwith the scanning window where Y=Y2−1 is established, Y is changed, whenthere is a match with a condition of the scanning window, successivelyto Y2, Y2+1, . . . on a position where there is the match, and it isdecided whether there is a match with the range condition of Y wherebythe data array in the area is read until there is no match or Y=Y3 isobtained.
 8. The cell counting method in the analysis apparatusaccording to claim 5, wherein presence or absence of the cell is decidedaccording to a change in light quantity when laser light is emitted to atrack on the analysis disc where the cell is applied and when the laserlight is received by a photodetector.
 9. A cell counting method in ananalysis apparatus, the method comprising: reading a data array in anarea of a scanning window from memory for storing the data array havingbinary data of “0” or “1” surface-aligned along a lateral direction Xand a longitudinal direction Y, the binary data being obtained based onpresence or absence of cells applied with two or more sizes on ananalysis disc, the scanning window movable in the lateral direction Xand the longitudinal direction Y and having a size expressed by rows×X,the rows being aligned along the X direction of the data array, decidingthe presence or absence of the cells based on the data, identifying thesizes of the cells, and counting the number of the cells for each cellsize, wherein the scanning window is constituted of a first window fordeciding whether “0” is present over an area of the first window with asize of 1×X1 (X1 is an integer constant), a second window for decidingwhether “1” is included in an area of the second window positioned witha size of 1×1 at a center of the X direction of the first window in asubsequent row of the first window, a third window for deciding whetherat least one “1” is included in each row of an area of the third windowpositioned with a size of Y1×X1 (Y1 is an integer variable) in asubsequent row of the second window, and a fourth window for decidingwhether “0” is present over an area of the fourth window positioned witha size of 1×X1 (X1 is an integer variable) in a subsequent row of thethird window, and the cell sizes are identified using the scanningwindow.
 10. The cell counting method in the analysis apparatus accordingto claim 9, wherein X1 is larger than a range of displacement caused byvariations in a sampling starting point.
 11. The cell counting method inthe analysis apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the presence orabsence of the cell is decided according to a change in light quantitywhen laser light is emitted to tracks on the analysis disc where thecell is applied and when the laser light is received by a photodetector.12. An analysis apparatus, in which detection light is emitted to ananalysis disc where cells are applied, and the cells are counted basedon data received by a photodetector, the analysis apparatus comprising:a memory for storing binary cell information for each bit of a data bus,the cell information being obtained for each track on the analysis disc,a window movable in an area of the memory, a window movement controlsection for controlling a movement of the window, a cell sizedetermination section for recognizing the cell from an array of “1” inthe window and determining a cell size, a cell counting section forincrementing a counter after recognition of the cell, and a memoryrewriting section for rewriting “1” to “0” after the recognition of thecell.
 13. The analysis apparatus according to claim 12, wherein thewindow movement control section comprises a window scanning section forcausing a window with a size of 1×1 to scan in an address direction, a“1” decision section for deciding presence or absence of “1” duringscanning of the window, a cell size counter for incrementing a countevery time the decision section detects “1”, a window control sectionfor expanding the window to “1” detected by the decision section, astage shifting section for shifting a scanning segment of “1” in a bitdirection every time the decision section detects “1”, and a searchsegment control section for limiting a range where the window is causedto scan in the shifted scanning segment.
 14. The analysis apparatusaccording to claim 12, wherein a size expanded in the address directionis determined based on a desired cell size and the obtained size is usedas a search segment of a subsequent bit.
 15. A cell counting method inan analysis apparatus, in which detection light is emitted to ananalysis disc where cells are applied, and the cells are counted basedon data received by a photodetector, the method comprising: step 1 ofcausing a window with a size of 1×1 to scan in an address direction anddetecting “1” in a memory area, step 2 of expanding the window to 1×X6(X6 is an integer constant) relative to the detected “1”, step 3 ofdisposing the window of 1×X6 in a subsequent stage and expanding, whenthe window has “1”, the window to the subsequent stage, step 4 ofrepeating processing of step 2 and step 3 until no “1” is detected inthe window, step 5 of ending expansion of the window when no “1” isdetected in the window, and making a count when the window has a size ofa predetermined value in a Y direction, and step 6 of rewriting all “1”to “0” and repeating processing from step 1.